We know what to expect from Newport County - Derry

Medy Elito gets a shot in for Cambridge United against Newport County. Picture: Simon Lankester

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Cambridge United head coach Shaun Derry is confident that his side have learned from the mistakes they made a fortnight ago against Newport County.

The U’s were dumped out of the FA Cup at Rodney Parade, with a Joss Labadie double sending the Exiles through to the third round.

Newport, who remain just two points above the U’s in the table, were in fairly indifferent form before beating Cambridge, with just two wins in eight, and followed their cup win with a 3-3 draw against Carlisle.

After falling behind in the second minute, the U’s actually played quite well for the remainder of the game but were, again, unable to find the goal before being hit on the counter for the second.

And Derry said that, looking back, the game was far tighter than the scoreline suggested.

“The good thing about playing Newport as closely as we have done over the past two weeks is that we know their style of play and we know their personnel,” he said.

“We’ve kept tabs on the game after they played against us and we know that they are going to come to the Abbey in a confident mood as they beat us two weeks ago.

“Video prep is massive in modern day football, you don’t just string together 11 players on a Saturday and ask them to do a job.

“You try and pin point and pick out certain points of the game where perhaps we could have made different situation choices when you get in that final third.

“Looking back at the game, I think the stats will show we had a lot of possession, good coverage over the defensive and the middle part [of the pitch] and it was that final third where the final ball, the cross or the shot didn’t really come off for us.

“I look at that game and them winning 2-0 and the amount of chances that they had on our goal and I’d say it was a really tight game.

“And that’s something you have to bear in mind. If you look at the chances the opposition are getting in against us – and it’s not loads – they’re all tight game bar the Luton game.”

And after playing four of their last five games in all competitions away from home, and failing to find a goal in those four matches, Derry is looking forward to playing back at The Abbey for the first time.

“I’m pleased that the home form has been slightly different to last year and I’m looking forward to playing at home, of course I am,” he said.

“But the away games, they all equal themselves out over the season. You’ve just got to take it for what it is and at this moment in time, we want it to pick up, it’s as simple as that.

“I don’t know what people are expecting for me to comment at this moment in time. [If they expect me to be] kind of low and chin scraping on the floor and things like that. I’m not kind of guy. I’m optimistic.

“It’s great to be involved in football and it’s great to lead the team out on Saturday and I’m looking forward too it.”